Messages - kmatt

I wouldn't say that it's the lightest notebook I've ever held, but it's certainly far from heavy. Sorry I don't have a scale on me to measure it but I'd say it's between 4 and 5 pounds. Hope that helps!!

Awesome about your computer, hope you like it as much as I'm enjoying mine. And glad to hear you may be finding some luck on the apartment hunt. BTW, I have no idea about the cancelling check thing...I believe they state that it's a non-refundable deposit and if they say it's a 48 hour thing, then you might be out of luck. Maybe just call them and say, I'm not going to live there and you haven't cashed it, so just pull it out. If they don't really HAVE your money yet, maybe they'll be more willing to just give it back to you. I dunno, seems kind of unfair that they'd cash a check knowing you aren't going to live there. It would be one thing if it was an application fee...but not a big-time deposit. Anyways, good luck with that!

JTRich, as far as I know, it's a non-refundable deposit. I asked if I could get it back if I changed and they said basically not unless I am no longer attending Maryland Law. I think they're probably pretty tight-fisted about keeping their free money if you decide not to stay with them. And I actually did order the computer and received it 2 days ago. I upgraded the RAM and the processor speed a little bit and I really like the machine. It runs really fast and without a hitch installing all of my programs on there. It seems to be a good bet. I think I got my machine with the upgrades for about 1600. By the way, if we haven't said this, they told us at Welcome Night that you don't have to have their computer but you have to make sure it's "compatible" with them, basically meaning check with their Tech Department before making any big purchase. Anyways, best of luck to everyone in the last months of our free lives :-) Peace.

Every other place that I looked at in the neighborhood was going to be more expensive than University Suites. I might be wrong, but I was calling around and getting estimates in the 800-900 range plus 100 for parking + utilities (U. Suites for me is 795 total a month). The other places are probably much nicer, but I actually found University Suites to be cheaper since all utilities were included and parking was half the cost. Remember, big city = expensive. I figure I'm just going to give University Suites a year and if I don't like it, I'll change for my second year. At the Welcome Night, the people who lived in the Suites said they thought it was fine and had no problems with it. They also said it was a big plus to have your apartment so close that you could run home for lunch during the day or just could avoid a long walk back home in the evenings. Good luck finding some information on other places and getting one cheaper if you can, JTRich!

I'll try to give the best summary of Welcome Night that I can and point out all the important info that they gave us. Thelynifer, if you went too, feel free to fill in the gaps that I might leave. Basically, it was a tour of the building (which I assume probably everyone has had already when they visited), a sample class (very good, knowledgeable and effective professor, I think her last name was Norton, about a case in Oregon using the tort of outrageous conduct), and a little reception. We had a chance to ask the Peer Assistants (whatever they're called) questions as well as the dean of registration. Important info: laptops will be ready soon (you don't have to have UMD's but it needs to conform to their technical standards, if you have a question then email the Tech Dept.), health insurance and mandatory health forms will be emailed out soon and posted on the Incoming Students page, suggested that you do NOT take Pre-Law School courses as they're just a waste of money, book lists don't come out till pretty soon before classes start so it's really not possible to get any sort of head start, orientation is in late August (look at the calendar online), generally law school at Maryland is highly strenuous but they stressed not worrying about what other people are doing or how much time they're spending on certain assignments since everyone's going to work at a different pace, there's always happy hours or get-togethers going on all around the city, clinic is of course required, a lot of the students seemed to like University Suites while some other lived in Federal Hill and just walked over in the mornings without any problems...and that's about all that I can remember from the discussions. I'd suggest going to the second Welcome Night in July if you can, since it really does give you a chance to get to know at least a few people (not the most conducive environment for meeting people I've ever seen, but I got to know a few names and faces). If I can think of anything else relevent, then I'll try to post again, or if you want to ask me a question about Welcome Night, my email is kevinmattingly@gmail.com and my IM is kebbo16. And JTRich, I got the "Baltimore" style in the Historic section of University Suites. I'd email them because they didn't send me any information until I pestered them about room assignment, roommates, style, etc. They just gave me two random roommates that I still need to get in touch with. Anyways, good luck and good summers to everyone. Feel free to get in touch!

Not so much that I've heard. I'm on my way to the Welcome Night tonight at the law school. I'll try to post if anything particularly interesting is said. Oh, and if anyone's been wondering (like me), the Dell computers set up by the school should be available for purchase either lat this week or early next week. I emailed the head of the technology department and that's the information that he gave me. Anyone else get room assignments at University Suites? I just got mine back so I'm curious to see what other people got. Peace!

Hey everyone, I'll be at Maryland Law in the fall too. I just RSVP'd for the Welcome Night on June 13th so hopefully I'll see some of you all there. Just to let everyone know, I did set up a separate message board strictly for our incoming class. It's at http://s9.invisionfree.com/Maryland_Law_School/ . I just figured it would provide all of us with a spot off of LSD where we could talk about everything and get to know each other without the traffic on here. Good luck to everyone this summer and I hope to meet all of you real soon.

Kevin

I can't make the June Welcome Night either. Would you let us know how it went KMatt?

Of course. Hopefully I won't be the ONLY person there since it seems no one can make it Take care all!

Hey everyone, I'll be at Maryland Law in the fall too. I just RSVP'd for the Welcome Night on June 13th so hopefully I'll see some of you all there. Just to let everyone know, I did set up a separate message board strictly for our incoming class. It's at http://s9.invisionfree.com/Maryland_Law_School/ . I just figured it would provide all of us with a spot off of LSD where we could talk about everything and get to know each other without the traffic on here. Good luck to everyone this summer and I hope to meet all of you real soon.

Heya! MD here as well. I grew up in Baltimore and can't want to get out of Connecticut and go back. It's a great city. I've been reading a lot on the boards about how UMD doesn't place well in terms of jobs. Is that true? I know it's a top 50 school, so it sort of seems unlikely to me.

Any thoughts?

Don't forget, it's also going to MAJORLY depend on how well you do in law school. Yes, if you do poorly at Maryland, you'll have trouble finding the job you really want, but if you do well, you'll be fine. Maryland wouldn't be ranked as high as it is if their career numbers were as low as people make them out to be. Just going to X law school does not mean you either are screwed or set up for life. Maryland is a quality school, and from the 3L I talked to on my visit, the problem with Career Services is that they don't simply do it for you. You have to actively search for your summer and career placement, which I guess is different than some other schools. But he said he didn't find that they placed any worse than anywhere else, just that you may have to be more active in the search for a job. People give Maryland crap about being in the "ghetto" too, and if you've visited, you'd know that that's not entirely accurate either. So don't believe everything you read or hear.